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Washington's new baseball stadium will debut on time and within budget.

AT THE HEIGHT of the impassioned debate about building a baseball stadium, then-Mayor Anthony A. Williams urged the District to look ahead "to what our city could become." A glimpse of that future arrives this weekend as the District inaugurates its gleaming new baseball stadium. It's too soon to know whether the city's $611 million investment will pay off in the promised transformation of the neglected neighborhoods of Southeast Washington. But there's much to celebrate.

Foremost is the completion, on time and within budget, of Nationals Park. Critics said it couldn't be done, particularly in the compressed construction schedule caused by the protracted wrangling over the public financing. Though work crews are racing to complete the finishing touches, the park stands ready for Saturday's exhibition game against the Baltimore Orioles and Sunday's opener against the Atlanta Braves. The unique financing scheme that relies on special business taxes, lease payments and revenue from concessions also appears to have worked, with city officials reporting revenue exceeding projections.

The state-of-the-art facility is a beauty -- though we suspect that fans will engage in a recurring debate over the virtues of its sleek concrete vs. the classic red brick made popular by Baltimore's Camden Yards. Officials boast that there's not a bad seat in the house. That seemed to be borne out by The Post's Daniel LeDuc, who, reporting from the cheapest seats in the stadium, described good views, not just of action on the field but of the glorious panorama of the Capitol and the Washington Monument. Among those pushing for a design matching the federal feel of the capital city was Mr. Williams; that's in keeping with the giant imprint the former mayor put on the entire endeavor. Not only was he a driving force in persuading Major League Baseball to give the District a team after a 33-year absence, but it was at his insistence that the Anacostia River site was selected.

Mr. Williams was right to argue that the use of public funds could be justified only if the undertaking brought new life to Southeast. Perhaps critics are right that this part of the city was destined to rebound, but the ballpark -- if successful -- will serve as an accelerator. It's important that fans find the games enjoyable, so lingering logistical issues such as parking and transportation need to be addressed. It also will help if the Nationals field a team that makes fans willing to surmount an obstacle or two on their way to the games.